SMP Al Siddiq International School is set to mark a significant milestone in its history by holding its first-ever Grand Tahfidz and Academic Graduation Ceremony for the inaugural graduating cohort on 1 June 2026. A total of 17 students will take part in the academic graduation ceremony, symbolising the successful completion of their educational journey at the junior secondary level.
This occasion is more than just a graduation ceremony; it represents a major milestone in the development of an educational institution that, within a relatively short period, has demonstrated remarkable growth and achieved numerous accomplishments in academics, character development, and Qur’anic memorisation.
The Head of the Education Unit of SMP Al Siddiq International School stated that the school’s journey since its establishment has been filled with both challenges and opportunities. During its first year, the school enrolled only around 20 students. However, this modest number became a strong foundation for building a high-quality, personalised educational culture focused on nurturing a generation of globally minded Muslim learners.
“Our journey began with a small step. Today, we are witnessing how that small step has grown into an impressive leap of achievement,” he remarked.
As part of its commitment to educational excellence, SMP Al Siddiq International School offers a range of flagship programmes designed to meet the demands of the modern era while preserving Islamic values. One of these flagship initiatives is the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Programme, which focuses on strengthening students’ digital literacy and technological competencies.
Through this programme, students are introduced to coding, simple application development, educational game design, and the fundamentals of web development. This approach not only develops technical skills but also fosters computational thinking, creativity, and critical thinking from an early age.
Alongside academic development, the Tahfidz Programme serves as a central pillar in nurturing students’ character and spirituality. The programme aims for students to memorise a minimum of five juz of the Holy Qur’an during their three years of study. Remarkably, some Year 8 students have already surpassed this target and undertaken their Tahfidz assessments ahead of schedule.
The school also upholds the principle that every child possesses unique potential and should be given the opportunity to develop according to their strengths. For this reason, education at SMP Al Siddiq International School is delivered through a personalised and human-centred approach rather than imposing a single standard of success on all students.
This philosophy is reflected in the diverse achievements of its students. Many excel not only in Qur’anic memorisation but also in the fields of arts, vocal performance, leadership, and academics. This multidimensional approach has become a distinctive feature of student development at the school.
Nevertheless, the school maintains rigorous standards in the Tahfidz programme. Every memorisation achievement must pass through a structured series of assessments and cannot progress without meeting the required standards.
“If a student has completed memorising Juz 30, they must first undergo an assessment. Once their memorisation is strong and secure, they may proceed to the next juz. Every stage must be thoroughly mastered and mutqin (accurate and firmly memorised),” explained the school administration.
This year’s graduation ceremony will showcase several outstanding memorisation achievements. One Year 9 student, Kenzie, has successfully memorised eight juz of the Holy Qur’an. Meanwhile, Fruomoasa Karinadia has memorised six juz and has already participated in the Tahfidz assessment conducted by the Bekasi City LPTQ.
The Tahfidz graduates will be grouped according to their memorisation achievements, ranging from two juz and three juz to higher levels of memorisation. What makes the ceremony particularly meaningful is that it will not be merely symbolic; invited guests will also have the opportunity to listen directly to a live tasmi’ recitation by one of the students as authentic evidence of their memorisation accomplishments.
In addition to recognising academic and non-academic achievements, the school places great emphasis on honouring students based on their learning process, manners, character, discipline, perseverance, and dedication throughout their educational journey.
This inaugural graduation ceremony is expected to serve as both a moment of reflection and a stepping stone towards even greater achievements. With a steadily growing student population and increasing public trust, SMP Al Siddiq International School remains optimistic about its future development as one of the leading educational institutions dedicated to producing Qur’anic, high-achieving, well-rounded, and globally prepared young individuals.
This historic occasion reaffirms the belief that every great journey begins with a small step—and today, that small step has evolved into a remarkable legacy of achievement.
Retno Suzanne Handayani, Lc, M.Pd